GII vs VXUS
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, GII or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GII led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | GII | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $940M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.66% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 90 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +6.27% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.95% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.90% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.98%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -42.9% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,090Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2007 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
GII vs VXUS growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 15.6 years both funds cover.
GII vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Global Infrastructure ETF (GII) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GII returned +11.95% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, GII is up 6.27% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, GII compounded at +16.90% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.98% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs +4.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.0% for GII. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -42.9% for GII and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GII charges 0.40% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $5 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GII currently yields 2.66% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 46.1% of GII's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 90 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GII | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TCL:AUTransurban Group | 5.40% | 0.07% | 5.33% |
| AENA:MAAena Sme Sa | 5.42% | 0.05% | 5.37% |
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 3.92% | 0.26% | 3.66% |
| PAC:MXGrupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Sab De Cv Adr | 3.58% | 0.00% | 3.58% |
| AIA:NZAuckland International Airport Ltd. Auckland Intl Airport Ltd Registered Shares O N | 3.44% | 0.02% | 3.42% |
| NG:LNNational Grid, Plc | 2.30% | 0.18% | 2.12% |
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 2.31% | 0.15% | 2.16% |
| FHZN:SMFlughafen Zurich | 2.19% | 0.01% | 2.18% |
| ASURB:MXGrupo Aeroportuario Del Sureste Sab De Cv | 1.87% | 0.01% | 1.86% |
| ENGI:PAEngie Sa | 1.60% | 0.01% | 1.59% |
46.1% of GII is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GII or VXUS?
GII has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GII or VXUS?
Over the past year GII returned +11.95% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GII annualized +4.77% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GII or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.0% for GII. Worst drawdown: GII -42.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both GII and VXUS?
GII and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GII and VXUS?
At least 46.1% of GII's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in GII and 8,094 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, GII or VXUS?
GII yields 2.66% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so GII currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than GII?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GII led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.